The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-20
STORIES or HIGH ROLLERS.
Philadelphia Times

Few of the ancient gamesters who were good for one month at West End are al Long Branch now. They arN almost all gathered to their fathers, and the click of ivory chips or Abe Marks cheerful voice saying at taro, i ''Gentlemen, this is pleasant call. 1" interosl them no more.
 But found one genial old timer, l once in Philadelphia. still lingering amid the joys of the Branch nor does he lag superiluoas on the stage, for at an interest in buying and selling stocks ] on Wall Mreet, long and short, as he did when he leit Philadelphia and the wool business after the war with du- cats to the amount ot Si5o,n0o, most of which he has yet. This veteran wore clover flower on the lapel of his coat and seemed to carry about him ! the perfume of perennial youth, It was John Pondir. Al the supper ta. hle ot the West End. as John sippei his "Formosa," he told many inter esting incidents oi hN gone days and of the great games vt W ashington alsl New York, He pointed out to men old Ben Wood. of New York, the wi. iy congressman. Fernando Woods brother. t eldaVerous- look ing old man. who says he is only sixty five years old. but, with parchment taoc. he looks to be one hundrcd Ben Wood is the hero of the greatest game oi ta. To ever played in Americas game without limit~-at which in the carly morning hours, atler all nights play Ben Wood rose up, atler winning from John Morrissey In his own gan'- bling house in Twenty. fourth ft;, &i6u,Ood No wonder John 'rrisscy died poor.
 The supper table was cleared away. and John 4. Thomas, the boss waiter, who rules 2d servants at the West End with the discipline oi n martlnct, , stood like stalwart Touisalnt Lover 1 turc ready to close the supper room Hut Jack rondr went on with his story. thus
 "loung man. it h N been thirty odd years since l saw a young lawyer win s5.60o from Joe Hall, In Philadelphia, and twenty. five 0s62) years since won Si2,oo0 at Pendlcton's game ln Washington. Money was plenty then But aiI too old to play now--therc is not the same fire in my veins, al- though do Ro over to Phil naly's and play little cribbagc In the evening ] only to pass away the time.
 "But--" and the old mans eye . A..t.. .l.A i the battle from afar--"l,ut do re- member the biggest game of hccaret ever played in this, and. as far as know In any other country. had moved to New York. Schuyler and Jimmy Watson. thc latter known as one of tho best sports in the state of New York. kept hccaret game at ] II West Twenty fourth street, New i York. The game was Just becoming l popular In the country. Jimmy Wat son had invited August Belmont. 1 Lloyd PhTnix, Charles Keep, myself and two or three others 1 need not name, to a swell dinner at his gam bling house. And IL was dinner. iie gave us to understand that n little game might bc expected after dinner, and without limit.
 "i got all the wine wanted, and was In had luck. Six hundred dol lars was mutually agreed upon be- tween Us players as the limit for each i turn.
 ! "ipiayed iii one o'clock in iiir niorn- 1 ing, and to my disgust found mysef 1 E4 ,60O out, and rose up from the ta. l blc thinking had enough to last me all night, and laid down on the sofa in the fron; room III! Charley Keep woke mo up to take bottle of cham pagne. WAS not too sleepy to do that. My courage woke up, too Keeps i father ln- law was worth F6 6,0Oo, ,0t0, and he himself commanded unlimited cash, as did every man at that board. 1 l said Charley, give me si .00O,' He said Certainly, and as much more as you want went at it again with varying fortune pausing to hold my breath with astonlshment to sec Bel mont make iet of sG0,D ,D0O on one turn. Belmont won. By { o'clock in the morning (it WAS n hot August night in is7l) 1 was winner ofs ,000 besides paying my si ,D0o debt 10 Keep and outside of my loss early in the evening of s4,500. Lloyd ph1- nix won. too. We nearly 'busted' Jim my Watson, for the entire party took from the hank that August night s2oO, ,0O1. Jimmy Watson had to mort. gage all his stud of fine race horses and his Jersey farms, and what be-
 A. Al that was great night"
 Poniir paused. His eyes had far off look. iIc rose up, handed the head waitOra Y and said with empressmsDt:
 "Yonng man. don't gamble.s